Movable bridge



v I 1 March 1927 H. L. PRINZ MOVABLE BRIDGE Filed Jan. 4. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y v ENTOR ATTORNEY 1 Marsh 2 H. L. PRINZ MOVABLE. BRIDGE Filed Jan. 4. 1926 2 shets-sheet '2 fi/mm [fr 192x INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 192.7.

HERMAN L. PRINZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOVABLE BRIDGE.

Application filed January My invention relates to certain novel improvements in movable bridges and more particularly to the type of bridges known as the cantilever bridges and has for its principal object the provision of a bridge of this character which can be constructed and perated at an economical cost.

Among the other objects of the invention is the production of a bridge of this character wherein the bridge is movable in substantially a horizontal plane when moved from obstructing position transversely of a body of water and wherein the units for moving the bridge are located remote from the -waterway thereby eliminating unnecessary obstruction such as is present in bridges of the jack-knife and turn-table types. And further provision is made for moving the bridge in such direction wherein the power for operating the operating parts is reduced to a minimum and the strain and wear of the operating parts greatly reduced.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of this character wherein a simple novel combination of elements cooperate with each other, in unison, to support the bridge when in spanning po sition and likewise support the bridge during conveyance from and to spanning position. And further provision is made wherein a simple combination of elements cooperate with each other to move the bridge in locked spanning position providing a simple inexpensive arrangement preventing tilting of the spanning structure of the bridge when in spanning position.

A still further object of the invention is the production of a bridge of this character wherein a simple arrangement is provided for supporting the bridge under dead load as well as live load to assure safe travel thereacross when in spanning position.

Qt-her objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be here inafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction of my invention and in which:

Sig. 1. is an elevation of the bridge embodied in the invention showing the preferred form or construction,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the bridge illus trated in Fig. 1, showing the spanning struc 4, 1926. Serial No. 79,209.

ture, embodied in the invention, removed from spanning position,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a bridge showing a modified form of construction, and

Fig. a is an elevation of the bridge illustrated in Fig. 3 showing the spanning structure about to be conveyed from spanning positlon.

The various objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a bridge struc-- ture which will now be described in such language as will be best understood by those skilled in the art.

In this connection, and with reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a supporting pier is indicated at 10 contiguous of the bank 1.2 of the channel 13 and in spaced re lation with a cooperating supporting pier 1 1 located adjacent the bank 12 forwardly of the pier 10. These piers are illustrated as formed of concrete but it is apparent that the material of the piers can be of such material known in the art which will best serve the purpose.

These piers are designed to adequately support a beam 15 of known construction which. in turn supports a flooring 16 sloping downwardly toward the shore bank 12. This iioor serves in its primary capacity as a support for the moving units A of the spanning structure B and is disposed in spaced relation with a roof 17 sloping in parallel relaon with the floor 16 and which constitutes the roof of a guideway 18 within which the operating units A are confined for operation and which further constitutes the bottom beam of the street structure 19 at this point. This street structure 19 is of a known construction including reinforcing beams 20 and a concrete bed 21 supporting the street pavement 22. While I have not illustrated in the drawing the width of the guideway it is manifest that the same is of such dimension as will accommodate the spanning structure movable therein under certain conditions through the medium of the operating units A which will now be explained.

Before describing the operating units it is pointed out that the number of units employed for imparting movement to the spanning structure will obviously depend upon and be controlled by the size of the spanning structure. It is thought best to mention at this time that in a small spanning structure, of comparatively lightweight, there is met ill lit)

erably employed not less than two cooperating operating units one at each side of the spanning structure at the rear end portion thereof. The description to follow relative to these operating units is primarily directed toward the single unit.

In this connection the operating unit, in its preferred form of construction, includes a rack bar 28 meshing for operation with an operating gear 24 mounted upon the operating shaft 25 operated through the medium of a suitable agent such as for example an electric motor (not shown). This rack bar is operatively connected in a suitable manner to a cantilever beam 26 supported for longitudinal movement in the guideway, for operation, by traction rollers or wheels 27. These rollers or wheels are supported for rotation 'upon shafts 28 and are arranged in superimposed relation riding over the fioor 16 and under the roof 17 of the guideway.

This cantilever carries adjacent its outer end portion a draw link 29 serving to pivotally connect the cantilever as at 30 to the spanning structure B. This spanning structure includes a frame work composed of transverse beams 31 and reinforcing beams 3:2 supporting a pavement 33 of suitable material.

The spanning structure has its end portion 34 bevelled downwardly and forwardly as at 35 coinciding for snug fit with an upvardly bevelled edge 36 of the street structure for reasons hereinafter explained.

The opposite end 37 of the spanning structure has a rounded projection 38 formed thereon adapted to be seated, under certain conditions, in a rounded groove 39 formed transversely in the streetstructure 40 on the opposite shore side ll for reasons hereinafter explained. This street structure is preferably supported by a pier 42 similar in structure to the piers herein referred to.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, when the spanning structure is in spanning position to permit travel over the channel the rounded projection serves in its principal capacity, when seated in the rounded groove, to support the spannin structure in the position illustrated and in serving in this capacity it is assisted by the bevelled edges and 36. t is apparent that tilting of this spanning structure to the left of its pivotal connection to the draw link is prevented by reason of the confined position of this rounded projection and by reason of the down wardly projecting bevel 85 in bearing engagement with the bevel 36 of the street structure. Tilting of the spanning struc ture to the right of the pivotal connection is prevented also by reason of the confined position of this rounded projection.

In the form of constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and described above, the ep- 7 eration of the bridge is as follows.

In moving the spanning structure from spanning position the operating shaft being put into operation causes, through the medium of the rack bar and gear meshing therewith, the cantilever to move downwardly into the guideway. During the initial move ment of this cantilever the draw link draws the spanning structure in a downwardly sloping direction and during this movement of the spanning structure the rounded'projection serves as a pivot until the bevelled edge 35 is free from the bevelled edge 36 at which time, by reason of continued downward movement of the cantilever the spanning structure rests thereupon and is conveyed into the guideway from obstructing position over the channel. The spanning structure, by reason of being heavier in structure to the right of its pivotal connection to the draw link will not have atendency to tilt downwardly to the left of said pivotal connection during conveyance thereof into the guideway.

It is important to note that the sloping of the floor 16 is of such a degree that when the spanning structure rests upon the cantilever the rounded projection is in aligned hori zontal plane with the groove 39 for reasons hereinafter noted. Again it is to be noted that the rounded projection assists the draw link in supporting the spanning structure during movement thereof to disengage the bevelled edges herein referred to.

In returning the spanning structure the rounded portion being in aligned horizontal plane with the groove is assured of engagement therewith at the proper time as the spanning structure is moved into spanning position. After resetting of the rounded projection, the draw link will during continued movement of the cantilever urge upward pivotal action of the spanning structure, with the rounded projection serving as a pivot within the groove, to bring the bevelled edges 35 and 36 in proper operative position completing the movement of the spanning structure into spanning position.

In Figs. 3 and a I have illustrated a modified form of construction, which construction is of a bridge especially adapted where there is required an exceptionally large spanning structure. In. this construction the operating units are indicated at A and are con structed in a manner substantially similar to the operating units A, with the following exceptions.

In this structure, referring to a single operating unit, the operating unit is pivot-ally connected to the spanning structure B by means of a substantial pintle 4-3, having a. bearing support in a suitable bearing 44 carried adjacent the end of the cantilever a5 as at 46. It will be noted upon inspection of Fig. 3 of the drawings that this pintle 4:3 is located forwardly of the transverse center ill) of the spanning structure B for the purpose of disposing the greatest weight of this structure toward the end of the spanning structure in engagement with the street structure G and to cause pivotal movement of the spanning structure toward the cantilever upon operating movement thereof. The street structure engaging end 47 of the spanning structure is provided with a transverse groove 48 inwardly of a transverse tongue 49. seated engagement with a transverse groove 50 formed in the structure C adjacent the transverse tongue 51 which is adapted for seated engagement in the groove 48 when the spanning structure is in spanning position.

In this structure illustrated in Fig. 3 it is intended that before operation of the cantilever that pivotal movement be imparted to the spanning structure to pivot the same upon the cantilever and this is brought about through the medium of an operating cable 52 operatively connected to a suitable opera-ting agent (not shown) at one end and operatively connected to a draw link 53 having pivotal connection as at 54 to the spanning structure B adjacent the street struc ture engaging end portion 47.

The operation of this construction is such that upon operation of the operating cable 52 downward pivotal movement is urged to the spanning structure causing the same to pivot upon the cantilever disengaging the tongues from the grooves herein referred to. After this has taken place movement is imparted to the cantilever through the medium of the rack bar 23 and operating gear 25 moving the cantilever, with the spanning structure resting thereupon, downwardly into the guideway 18 removing the spanning structure from obstructing position.

The structureillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 consists of opposite spanning structures and operating units thereby providing a double spanning construction adaptable for span ning channels exceptionally large in width, and it is intended that these spanning structures and operating units operate in unison with the spanning structures when the same are moved from obstructing positions.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferred form of construction, it will be apparent that various changes and alterations may be resorted to during manufacture ,without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what This tongue 49 isadapted for tion into the guideway, and a member pivotally connecting the spanning structure and the moving means providing said operative connection. 1

2. A bridge including in combination with opposite street structures one defining a guideway, a spanning structure, operating means movable in the guideway for moving the spanning structure from spanning position into. the guideway, means for connecting an element of the operating means to the spanning structure at a point offset with respect to the transverse center line of the spanning structure, and means providing a separable pivotal connection between an edge of the spanning structure and the edge of the other street structure permitting pivotal movement of the spanning structure into a plane for movement into the guideway upon initial. operation of the operating means.

3. A bridge including in combination with a street structure having a guideway formed therein, of a spanning structure, means movable in the guideway and operatively connected to the spanning structure for moving said spanning structure from spanning position into the 'guideway, a member pivotally connecting the spanning structure and the moving means providing said operative connection, and traction means carried by'said moving means and working in said vguideway.

4. A bridge including in combination with a street structure having a guideway formed therein, of a spanning structure, operating means below the spanning structure and movable in the guideway, and a connection between said spanning structureand said operating means adapted to pivot an end of said spanning structure into supporting position on said operating means to be moved with said operating means into said guide way.

5. A bridge of the class described including a spanning structure movable in a downward and longitudinal direction, means for moving said spanning structure in said direction, and a member pivotally connect-- ing an element of the moving means to the spanning structure at a point offset with respect to the transverse center of the spanning structure to permit the spanning struc ture to move in said downward direction upon initial operation of the moving means.

6. In combination vith street structures on opposite sides of a body of water, one of the structures defining a bevelled edge and a guideway and the other street structure defining a groove formed in the guideway, a spanning structure movable in a horizontal plane into the guide-way and having a bevelled edge portion coinciding with the bevelled edge portion of the street structure for snug fit, means for moving said spanning structure in said plane connection between the moving means and span- 'ning structure adapted to urge downward pivotal movement of the spanning structure during initial movement of the moving means to disengage the bevelled edge portions, and means on the spanning structure opposite the bevelled edge adapted to seat in the groove providing a pivot during pivotal movement of the spanning structure.

7. The combination with street structures on opposite sides of a body of water, one of said street structures defining a guideway, a spanning structure movable in a longitudinal direction, means for moving said spanning structure in said direction, operative connection between the moving means and the spanning structure adapted to urge downward pivotal movement of the spanning structure during initial movement of the moving means, and means providing a separable pivotal connection between an edge of the spanning structure and the edge of the other street structure to permit said downward pivotal movement of the spanning structure.

8. In combination with street structures on opposite sides of a body of water and a groove formed in one of the street structures and a guideway defined by the other street structure, a spanning structure movable in a horizontal plane into the guideway and having an edge portion in engagement With'an edge of the other street structure when in spanning position, means'for moving said spanning structure in said plane, said moving means including a cantilever, traction elements carried thereby, a rack bar, and an operating gear meshing with the rack bar, a connection between the moving means and the spanning structure adapted to urge downward pivotal movement of the spanning structure during initial movement of the moving means to disengage the edge thereof from the edge of said other street structure, and means at an edge of the spanning structure opposite the aforesaid edge thereof adapted to seat in the groove providing a pivotal connection between the spanning structure and the moving means.

means for said spanning structures for moving the spanning structures into said guiden'ays, means providing pivotal connection between an element of each of the independent operating means and each spanning structure, and means operable by each of said independent operating means to pivot each spanning structure in a direction to dispose a portion of the spanning structure upon certain elements of the operating means. 7

10. A bridge including in combination with opposite street structures defining guideways and having transverse grooves formed in opposite edges thereof, spanning structures movable from spanning position into the guideways and defining at outer edges thereof transverse tongues adapted to be seated in the transverse grooves when the spanning structures are in spanning position, independent operating means for moving the spanning structures into the guideways, means providing pivotal connection between the independent operating means and the spanning structures, and means operatively connected to the spanning structures for pivoting the spanning structures in a direction to disengage the tongues from the grooves to dispose the spanning structures in a plane for movement into the guideways.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

HERMAN L. PRINZ. 

